Drive system for track-laying vehicles
First Claim
1. A drive system for a track-laying vehicle comprising, in combination:
- A. a first motor for providing a bidirectional first mechanical input infinitely variable in speed over a predetermined range;
B. a second motor similar to and independent of said first motor for providing a bidirectional second mechanical input infinitely variable in speed over an essentially identical predetermimed range; and
C. a transmission having first and second track driving outputs, and including(1) a first output gear set drivingly connected to said first transmission output,(2) a second output gear set drivingly connected to said second transmission output,(3) first means interconnecting said first and second output gear sets,(4) second means applying said first mechanical input to said first output gear set, said first mechanical input providing both steering power and propulsion power to said first output gear set,(5) third means applying said second mechanical input to said second output gear set, said second mechanical input providing both steering power and propulsion power to said second output gear set,(6) fourth means conditioning said first and second output gear sets to respectively produce first range propulsion and steering power at said first and second transmission outputs, and(7) fifth means operating in coordination with said fourth means to apply said first mechanical input to said second output gear set to produce second range propulsion power and first range steering power at said first range and second transmission outputs.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A drive system for track-laying vehicles utilizes a pair of separate and independent motors to drive a multi-range, infinitely variable steering transmission pursuant to developing two track driving transmission outputs. The transmission includes a pair of interconnected output planetary gears sets which are separately driven by the two motors to develop first range forward and reverse propulsion and steering power at the transmission outputs as sun to carrier reductions. The transmission is shiftable into a second, higher speed range, wherein the two motor outputs are additional combined in one of the output planetary gear sets uniquely constructed to produce second range forward propulsion and steering power, as well as steer cancallation at the transmission outputs.
37 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A drive system for a track-laying vehicle comprising, in combination:
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A. a first motor for providing a bidirectional first mechanical input infinitely variable in speed over a predetermined range; B. a second motor similar to and independent of said first motor for providing a bidirectional second mechanical input infinitely variable in speed over an essentially identical predetermimed range; and C. a transmission having first and second track driving outputs, and including (1) a first output gear set drivingly connected to said first transmission output, (2) a second output gear set drivingly connected to said second transmission output, (3) first means interconnecting said first and second output gear sets, (4) second means applying said first mechanical input to said first output gear set, said first mechanical input providing both steering power and propulsion power to said first output gear set, (5) third means applying said second mechanical input to said second output gear set, said second mechanical input providing both steering power and propulsion power to said second output gear set, (6) fourth means conditioning said first and second output gear sets to respectively produce first range propulsion and steering power at said first and second transmission outputs, and (7) fifth means operating in coordination with said fourth means to apply said first mechanical input to said second output gear set to produce second range propulsion power and first range steering power at said first range and second transmission outputs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a drive system for a track-laying vehicle powered by first and second independent, similar motors each developing respective bidirectional first and second propulsion and steering power inputs variable in speed over a corresponding range a multi-range, infinitely variable steering transmission comprising, in combination:
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A. a first track driving transmission output; B. a second track driving transmission output; C. a first planetary gear set driven by said first input and drivingly connected with said first transmission output; D. a second planetary gear set driven by said second input and drivingly connected with said second transmission output; E. first means interconnecting said first and second planetary gear sets; F. second means selectively acting on said first means to produce propulsion and steering power at said first and second transmission outputs during a first forward and reverse speed range; and G. third means operating in coordination with said second means to selectively apply said first input to said second planetary gear set to produce propulsion and steering power at said first and second transmission outputs during a second forward speed range. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In a steering transmission for track-laying vehicles, a steer cancelling planetary gear set for developing a resultant angular velocity function equal to the average angular velocity of two mechanical inputs, said planetary gear set comprising, in combination:
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A. a first sun gear to which one of the mechanical inputs is applied; B. a second sun gear to which the other one of the mechanical inputs is applied; C. a ring gear; D. a planetary carrier; E. a first set of pinion gears mounted on said planetary carrier in meshing engagement with said first sun gear and said ring gear; and F. a second set of pinion gears mounted on said planetary carrier in meshing engagement with said first pinion gear set and said second sun gear, whereby said resultant angular velocity function is developed on said ring gear. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification